Investigation continues into Vernon fire; donations wanted for family

VERNON >> While authorities continue investigating the cause of a Feb. 7 house fire on Carrick Road, well-wishers and community members are turning out to support the family who lost everything.

The home, owned by Mike Kazlauskas and his wife Deanna, with children Anthony, 7, and Alexis, 8, was completely gutted by the fire.

"They lost everything," said Mike's brother Charlie Kazlauskas on Monday.

No one was home at the time of the fire. Mike and Charlie, an Oneida firefighter, work in a family construction business and together built the Carrick Road home in 2002.

In 2009, Mike helped Charlie build his own home at 5470 Foster St. in Durhamville, where the family is now staying.

Charlie Kazlauskas said the family is working to rebuild a life for Alexis and Anthony, who attend J.D. George Elementary in Verona.

Over the weekend, donations of toys and clothes started coming in to help the family, Charlie Kazlauskas said, and a fund has been set up at Oneida Savings Bank to help the family get things for the children.

Donations can be made at any Oneida Savings Bank branch and should be directed to the "Kazlauskas/Mazzullo Fund." Clothing and toys can also be dropped off for Kazlauskas at the Oneida Fire Department, 109 N. Main St. in Oneida.

Also, if anyone has items they could donate to the parents: Deanna wears size 3 pants, small shirts and 7.5 shoe; and Mike wears 34/34 pants, XL to XXL shirt and shoe size 12W, according to Facebook posts by family and friends.

On Thursday, the brothers were working at a construction site in Richfield Springs when they heard from a family friend that the house was on fire.

Around 11:15 a.m. Thursday, firefighters received word of a structure fire at 4988 Carrick Road, a dead-end that branches off Stoney Brook Road.

When fire crews arrived, they found fire rolling out the roof of the one-family, two-story colonial house. Fire spread to other parts of the residence as it was fueled by a light wind that day. Fire crews from Vernon, Vernon Center, Verona, Sherrill-Kenwood, Durhamville, Oneida Castle and New London worked to extinguish the blaze. Vineall ambulance was also available for medical support.

By 12:30 p.m., the fire was under control and firefighters were merely putting out hotspots that continued to appear.

The fire gutted the house, the roof caved in, and the back wall of the house was obliterated. Only the garage was untouched by the fire. Officials said that at first glance, the fire appeared to have begun at the rear of the house.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Oneida County Cause and Origin Team, said Kevin Revere, director of the county emergency management office.

On Monday, Revere said that depending on how quickly technicians can produce lab results from material samples taken at the scene, an investigation could take up to six weeks to complete, and added that the team had already visited the residence.

Despite the total loss, Kazlauskas said he and his brother Mike will rebuild the family home.